Short answer: the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2. It ranks #6 of 98 boombox speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $219. The W-King D20 ranks #39, rated 3.6/5, at $193, $26 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 is the better-sounding pick. A compact 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) party speaker with 100W output, 110dB maximum level, a 15-hour claimed battery, app-based 7-band EQ, dynamic lighting, USB playback, guitar and mic inputs, and Auracast linking. It links with other speakers (Auracast), which the W-King D20 cannot. The catch: It is front-facing, so the sound changes noticeably to the sides and behind it, and bass compression reduces kick-drum impact at maximum volume.
The W-King D20 is the longer-running, tougher pick. Comes with 2 wireless microphones. It is rated for 24 hours of battery against 15 for the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2. It is rated IPX6 against IPX4 for the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2. The tradeoff: Rising frequency response but upper treble rolled off, 700Hz and 1.2kHz peaks.
Buy the JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $26 with the W-King D20 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Portable Bluetooth rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 | W-King D20 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $219.00 | $193 |
| Ranked | #6 of 98 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers | #39 of 98 in Boombox Size Portable Bluetooth Speakers |
| App | Yes (JBL PartyBox app) | Yes (W-King app) |
| Aux Input | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (7 band App EQ) | Yes (App + button modes) |
| Guitar Input | Yes | - |
| IP Rating | IPX4 | IPX6 |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) | - |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) | No |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) | Yes |
| Power Input | AC Power cord | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No | No |
| TWS | Yes | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) | 14.3 lbs (6500 g) |
| Wireless Microphones | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | 5.3 |
| Amplifier Power | 100W RMS | 200W |
| Dimensions | 12.6” x 13.5” x 10.3” (319.5 x 342 x 260.4 mm) | 19.9” x 8.5” x 10.6” (506 x 217 x 270 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 135mm (5.25”) woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75”) dome tweeters | 4.5” + 3.5” drivers + 1.2” tweeters |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) | 112dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Digital Aux Input | No | No |
| Lights | Yes | - |
| Strap | No | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 42Hz | ~42Hz |
| MicroSD Playback | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2:
- EarFun Uboom X vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- Harman Kardon Go + Play 3 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
- JBL Partybox Encore 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
- JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Plus vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2
Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2: $219.00 Amazon $219.00 B&H Photo Video eBay
Older model: the JBL Partybox Encore Essential (ranked lower, rated 4.2/5). See every JBL PartyBox Encore generation.
Same family: the JBL Partybox Encore 2 (smaller model, ranked higher, rated 4.4/5).
Pros: A compact 6.2kg party speaker with 100W output, 110dB maximum level, a 15-hour claimed battery, app-based 7-band EQ, dynamic lighting, USB playback, guitar and mic inputs, and Auracast linking. Independent testing finds a balanced midrange, genuinely punchy low bass and enough output for a backyard gathering; its dome tweeters also improve the earlier Encore’s high-frequency behavior. Measured bass extension of 42Hz (-10dB).
Cons: It is front-facing, so the sound changes noticeably to the sides and behind it, and bass compression reduces kick-drum impact at maximum volume. Bluetooth latency can cause lip-sync issues, its IPX4 rating only covers splashes, and it omits the wireless microphones bundled with the non-Essential JBL Partybox Encore 2.
Full JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2025 (1 year ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 100W RMS |
| App | Yes (JBL PartyBox app) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 42Hz |
| Battery Life | 15 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 12.6” x 13.5” x 10.3” (319.5 x 342 x 260.4 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 135mm (5.25”) woofer + 2x 20mm (0.75”) dome tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (7 band App EQ) |
| Guitar Input | Yes |
| IP Rating | IPX4 |
| Lights | Yes |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| Microphone Input | Yes (Karaoke mode with echo effect) |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | Yes (Auracast) |
| Power Bank | Yes (USB-C) |
| Power Input | AC Power cord |
| Stereo | Yes |
| Strap | No |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) |
| Wireless Microphones | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: JBL giving it to us large! The good, The bad, The diabolical! More from alanrossreviews →
- Jagist reviews: Jbl Encore Essential 2 Vs W-king X20s!!! More from Jagistreviews →
- Jagist reviews: Hopestar A90 Vs Jbl Encore Essential 2!!! Deep Bass Vs Powerhouse Bass!!!
- KULAS TECH SHOW: JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 - Unbox, Sound test🔥💥 More from KULASTECHSHOW20 →
- MARIO GOMEZ MG: Tronsmart Halo 210 vs. JBL Encore Essential 2 SOUND TESTS
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL PartyBox On-The-Go 2 Plus
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore Essential
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs JBL Partybox Encore 2
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Harman Kardon Go + Play 3
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Aiwa Exos-9
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast
- JBL Partybox Encore Essential 2 vs EarFun Uboom X
- See all 98 comparisons
W-King D20: $193 AliExpress $193 eBay
Pros: Comes with 2 wireless microphones. Measured bass extension of ~42Hz (-10dB).
Cons: Rising frequency response but upper treble rolled off, 700Hz and 1.2kHz peaks
Full W-King D20 review and specifications →
| Released | Feb 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 200W |
| App | Yes (W-King app) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | ~42Hz |
| Battery Life | 24 hours (Manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Digital Aux Input | No |
| Dimensions | 19.9” x 8.5” x 10.6” (506 x 217 x 270 mm) |
| Drivers | 4.5” + 3.5” drivers + 1.2” tweeters |
| EQ | Yes (App + button modes) |
| IP Rating | IPX6 |
| Maximum SPL | 112dB (measured by Alan Ross Reviews) |
| MicroSD Playback | Yes |
| Omnidirectional | No |
| Party Mode | No |
| Power Bank | Yes |
| Power Input | USB-C |
| Stereo | Yes |
| TWS | Yes |
| USB Playback | Yes |
| Weight | 14.3 lbs (6500 g) |
| Wireless Microphones | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Alan Ross Reviews: pound for pound battle! WKing X20 D20 vs Stormbox Blast! OMG its a shocker! More from alanrossreviews →
- Alan Ross Reviews: W-King X20 JBL Boombox 3 killer! this should be illegal! - I was shocked!
- Alan Ross Reviews: Soundcore Boom 2 Plus Review - worst boombox speaker under $400?
- Mateusz Cholewa: Soundcore RAVE 3 🤗v🆚s W- KING X20🎶 More from Mateusz Cholewa →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: New! W-King X20 vs JBL Boombox 3 🛜 Head to Head 🔋Battery Powered 📊Custom EQ - Links In Description More from JaysStraightUpReviews →
- Jay’s Straight Up Reviews & More: W-King X20 vs Tribit Stormbox Blast 🍿 Garage Battle of Boombox Speakers 🍻Custom & Standard EQ’s
- Jagist reviews: LG xboom Stage 301 Vs W-king X20!!! More from Jagistreviews →
- Jagist reviews: W-king X20 Vs Jbl Encore!!! 😁😁😁
- Jagist reviews: W-king X20 Vs Skullcandy Barrel XT!!! 🤔😋
- Head-to-Head Comparisons